Solenoid-operated valve manifold

ABSTRACT

Substrates, in each of which all or parts of electronic parts including IC for communication are carried in a form of bare chip, are mounted on solenoid-operated valves attached onto manifold blocks for constructing a solenoid-operated valve manifold. Accordingly, it is possible to miniaturize the solenoid-operated valve manifold.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to a solenoid-operated valve manifold. In particular, the present invention relates to a solenoid-operated valve manifold in which a substrate, on which electronic parts including an integrated circuit for communication (IC for communication) are carried in a state of bare chip, is mounted on a solenoid-operated valve or a manifold so that a small size is successfully realized.

[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0004] Conventionally, when the serial transmission is performed, a solenoid-operated valve manifold includes a plurality of solenoid-operated valves attached on a manifold, in which driver circuits having photocouplers are carried on the plurality of solenoid-operated valves respectively. Further, the manifold contains a serial/parallel converter for converting the serial signal into the parallel signal, and it is provided with electric connectors and other components for signal lines and power source lines.

[0005] However, in the case of such a solenoid-operated valve manifold, substrates for the driver circuits for driving the solenoid-operated valves are arranged for the plurality of solenoid-operated valves respectively. Further, the substrate for the serial/parallel converter, which is mounted with the electronic parts including the integrated circuit for communication, is arranged on the manifold. Therefore, in order to further miniaturize the solenoid-operated valve manifold, it is necessary to decrease the sizes of the substrates.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] A general object of the present invention is to provide a solenoid-operated valve manifold in which all or parts of electronic parts including integrated circuits for communication are carried on substrates in a state of bare chips, and the substrates are mounted on solenoid-operated valves or a manifold to reduce the volume of the solenoid-operated valve manifold so that the size is successfully miniaturized.

[0007] The above and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which a preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown by way of illustrative example.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008]FIG. 1 shows a perspective view illustrating a solenoid-operated valve manifold according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

[0009]FIG. 2 shows a magnified perspective view illustrating a substrate provided for the solenoid-operated valve manifold shown in FIG. 1;

[0010]FIG. 3 shows a magnified perspective view illustrating another substrate;

[0011]FIG. 4 shows a magnified perspective view illustrating still another substrate;

[0012]FIG. 5 shows a magnified perspective view illustrating still another substrate;

[0013]FIG. 6 shows an electric wiring diagram of the solenoid-operated valve manifold shown in FIG. 1;

[0014]FIG. 7 shows a perspective view illustrating a modified embodiment of the solenoid-operated valve manifold shown in FIG. 1, depicting a state in which a substrate is mounted at the inside of each of manifold blocks;

[0015]FIG. 8 shows a perspective view illustrating a solenoid-operated valve manifold according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

[0016]FIG. 9 shows a perspective view illustrating a modified embodiment of the solenoid-operated valve manifold shown in FIG. 8, depicting a state in which a substrate is mounted at the inside of each of solenoid-operated valves;

[0017]FIG. 10 shows a perspective view illustrating a solenoid-operated valve manifold according to a third embodiment of the present invention; and

[0018]FIG. 11 shows a perspective view illustrating a modified embodiment of the solenoid-operated valve manifold shown in FIG. 10, depicting a state in which substrates are mounted at the inside of a mediating unit.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0019]FIG. 1 shows a solenoid-operated valve manifold 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the solenoid-operated valve manifold 10 comprises a plurality of manifold blocks 12 a to 12 e which are arranged adjacently side by side in parallel to construct a manifold 34 which is carried on a rail 14. Solenoid-operated valves 16 a to 16 b are attached to the manifold blocks 12 a to 12 e respectively. A mediating unit 20, which is integrated by an end plate 18 carried on the rail 14, is attached to one side surface of the manifold block 12 a. An end plate 22, which is carried on the rail 14, is attached to one side surface of the manifold block 12 e.

[0020] As shown in FIG. 2, a substrate 24 carries a plurality of electronic parts 30 and an integrated circuit 32 for communication (hereinafter referred to as “IC for communication 32”) in a state of bare chip. The substrate 24 is attached by the aid of pins (not shown) provided for each of recesses 26 a to 26 e which are defined on the respective side surfaces of the manifold blocks 12 a to 12 e. As shown in FIG. 7, the substrates 24 a to 24 e may be attached by the aid of unillustrated pins at the inside of the manifold blocks 12 a to 12 e.

[0021] In this arrangement, as shown in a wiring diagram in FIG. 6, the respective substrates 24 a to 24 e are electrically connected to one another by the aid of connectors 60 a to 60 e (in FIG. 6, connectors 60 c, 60 d are omitted from the illustration). A substrate 28 carries a DC/DC converter 56 as described later on, and it is attached to the side surface of the mediating unit 20. As shown in FIG. 6, the substrate 28 is connected to connectors 44, 46, 60 a. As shown in FIG. 11, the substrate 28 may be provided at the inside of the mediating unit 20.

[0022]FIG. 3 shows a substrate 38 which carries-a plurality of electronic parts 30 and an IC for communication 32 subjected to mold formation in a state of bare chip in order to avoid breakage and make protection from dust or the like. FIG. 4 shows a substrate 40 in which the entire substrate is subjected to mold formation to carry an IC for communication 32 and electronic parts 30 all of which or parts of which are in a state of bare chip. FIG. 5 shows an element 42 in which the entire substrate is formed into an integrated circuit to carry an IC for communication 32 and a plurality of electronic parts 30 all of which or parts of which are in a state of bare chip.

[0023]FIG. 6 shows the wiring diagram of the solenoid-operated valve manifold 10 shown in FIG. 1. With reference to FIG. 6, the mediating unit 20 is provided with the connectors 44, 46. The connector 44 includes a power source line 48 which is provided with power sources of DC 24 V and 0 V; a first signal line 50 which feeds a transmission signal S1 transmitted from a control equipment (not shown), for example, a sequence controller to the respective IC's for communication 32 a to 32 e of the solenoid-operated valves 16 a to 16 e and which transmits the signal to the next equipment, for example, an unillustrated solenoid-operated valve; and a second signal line 52 which transmits a transmission signal S2 sent from another control equipment, for example, a solenoid-operated valve to the next equipment, for example, a solenoid-operated valve via the IC's for communication 32 a to 32 e.

[0024] The connector 46 includes a power source line 54 which is branched from the power source line 48 and which feeds power sources of DC 24V and 0 V to the next equipment, for example, a solenoid-operated valve; a first signal line 50; and a second signal line 52. The connectors 44, 46 are connected to the substrate 28. The DC/DC converter 56 is carried on the substrate 28 which is attached to the mediating unit 20. The DC/DC converter 56 converts the power sources of DC 24 V and 0 V flowing through the power source line 48 into the power sources of DC 5 V and 0 V, and it feeds the power sources of DC 5 V and 0 V to the IC's for communication 32 a to 32 e via a power source line 58.

[0025] The connectors 60 a to 60 e (in FIG. 6, the connectors 60 c, 60 d are omitted from the illustration) provided for the manifold 34 constructed by the manifold blocks 12 a to 12 e (in FIG. 6, the manifold blocks 12 b, 12 c, 12 d are omitted from the illustration), and a connector 62 provided for the end plate 22 are provided with the power source line 48, the first signal line 50, the second signal line 52, and the power source line 58.

[0026] The connector 62, which is provided for the end plate 22, includes circuits 64, 66 with their first end sides being connected to the substrate 24 e and with their second end sides allowing the first signal line 50 and the second signal line 52 inputted/outputted to the IC's for communication 32 a to 32 e respectively to be connected to the connectors 44, 46 of the mediating unit 20.

[0027] The respective solenoid-operated valves 16 a to 16 e are provided with first solenoids 68 a to 68 e and second solenoids 70 a to 70 e. Respective power source lines 72 a to 72 e, which are branched from the power source line 48 of DC 24V, are connected to the first solenoids 68 a to 68 e and the second solenoids 70 a to 70 e respectively. Collectors of transistors 74 a to 74 e, 76 a to 76 e are connected thereto respectively. Respective bases of the transistors 74 a to 74 e, 76 a to 76 e are connected to signal lines 78 a to 78 e, 80 a to 80 e respectively conducted to the IC's for communication 32 a to 32 e. Respective emitters of the transistors 74 a to 74 e, 76 a to 76 e are connected to power source lines 82 a to 82 e respectively branched from the power source line 48 of 0 V. Reference numerals 84 a to 84 e indicate each of changeover switches for simultaneously operating the first solenoid 68 a to 68 e and the second solenoid 70 a to 70 e, or making changeover so that any one of the solenoids is in an operation state. When the changeover switch 84 a to 84 e is turned OFF, the first solenoid 68 a to 68 e and the second solenoid 70 a to 70 e are simultaneously operated. When the changeover switch 84 a to 84 e is turned ON, any one of the first solenoid 68 a to 68 e and the second solenoid 70 a to 70 e is operated.

[0028] The solenoid-operated valve manifold 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention is basically constructed as described above. Next, its operation, function, and effect will be explained with reference to the wiring diagram shown in FIG. 6.

[0029] The digital signal of a command to operate any one of the solenoid-operated valves 16 a to 16 e is sent to any one of the IC's for communication 32 a to 32 e via the connector 44 and the first signal line 50 from the outside. As for the IC's for communication 32 a to 32 e, for example, when the digital signal is inputted into the IC for communication 32 a, the ON signal flows through the respective bases of the transistors 74 a, 76 a via the signal lines 78 a, 80 a from the IC for communication 32 a. The respective collectors and the emitters of the transistors 74 a, 76 a are conducted to one another. The current flows through each of the first solenoid 68 a and the second solenoid 70 a of the solenoid-operated valve 16 a. Accordingly, the solenoid-operated valve 16 a is operated. In this embodiment, when any one of the first solenoid 68 a and the second solenoid 70 a of the solenoid-operated valve 16 a is operated, the changeover switch 84 a may be turned ON beforehand.

[0030] The other solenoid-operated valves 16 b to 16 e are operated in the same manner as the solenoid-operated valve 16 a, detailed explanation of which will be omitted.

[0031] On the other hand, the digital signal of the second signal line 52, which is sent from the another solenoid-operated valve via the connector 46, is sent to the IC's for communication 32 e to 32 a. The digital signal is sent via the IC's for communication 32 e to 32 a to the next unillustrated solenoid-operated valve by the aid of the connector 44.

[0032]FIG. 8 shows a solenoid-operated valve manifold 90 depicting a second embodiment of the present invention. Respective substrates 24 a to 24 e are attached to recesses 36 a to 36 e which are defined at respective upper portions of the solenoid-operated valves 16 a to 16 e, and they are electrically wired with each other. As shown in FIG. 9, the substrate 24 a to 24 e may be mounted at the inside of the solenoid-operated valves 16 a to 16 e.

[0033]FIG. 10 shows a schematic arrangement of a solenoid-operated valve manifold 100 depicting a third embodiment of the present invention. Respective substrates 24 a to 24 e are attached substantially in sequence along a side surface of a mediating unit 20, and they are electrically wired with each other. As shown in FIG. 11, the substrates 24 a to 24 e may be mounted at the inside of the mediating unit 20.

[0034] In the present invention, it is a matter of course that the attachment places for the substrates 24 a to 24 e are not limited to the portions described above concerning the solenoid-operated valve manifolds 10, 10 a, 90, 90 a, 100, 100 a shown in FIG. 1 and FIGS. 7 to 11, which may be any portion to which the substrate is successfully attached, including, for example, the interiors and the outer side surfaces of the manifold blocks 12 a to 12 e, the solenoid-operated valves 16 a to 16 e, and other components.

[0035] According to the first to third embodiments, the substrates 24, 24 a to 24 e, 38, 40 or the elements 42 are carried, for example, on the manifold 34 (manifold blocks 12 a to 12 e) or the solenoid-operated valves 16 a to 16 e. Furthermore, all or parts of the electronic parts 30 including the IC's for communication 32, 32 a to 32 e are miniaturized in the substrates 24, 24 a to 24 e, 38, 40. Accordingly, it is possible to decrease the volume of the solenoid-operated valve manifold 10, 10 a, 90, 90 a, 100, 100 a. It is possible to realize a small size of the solenoid-operated valve manifold 10, 10 a, 90, 90 a, 100, 100 a. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A solenoid-operated valve manifold comprising a plurality of solenoid-operated valves attached to a manifold, and a mediating unit arranged adjacently side by side with said manifold, wherein: a substrate, which carries electric parts including an integrated circuit for communication, is mounted in each of recesses formed on outer surfaces of manifold blocks for constructing said manifold.
 2. The solenoid-operated valve manifold according to claim 1 , wherein said substrate is mounted in each of recesses formed on outer surfaces of said solenoid-operated valves.
 3. The solenoid-operated valve manifold according to claim 1 , wherein said substrates are mounted substantially in sequence along an outer side surface of said mediating unit.
 4. The solenoid-operated valve manifold according to claim 1 , wherein said substrate includes an integrated circuit for communication subjected to mold formation.
 5. The solenoid-operated valve manifold according to claim 1 , wherein said substrate includes an integrated circuit for communication subjected to mold formation together with said electronic parts.
 6. The solenoid-operated valve manifold according to claim 1 , wherein said substrate is composed of an element in which said entire substrate is formed into an integrated circuit on which said electronic parts and said integrated circuit for communication are carried.
 7. The solenoid-operated valve manifold according to claim 1 , wherein said IC for communication is provided in a state of bare chip.
 8. The solenoid-operated valve manifold according to claim 1 , further comprising connectors for electrically connecting said adjoining manifold blocks to one another.
 9. A solenoid-operated valve manifold comprising a plurality of solenoid-operated valves attached to a manifold, and a mediating unit arranged adjacently side by side with said manifold, wherein: a substrate, which carries electric p arts including an integrated circuit for communication, is mounted at the inside of each of manifold blocks f or c onstructing said manifold.
 10. The solenoid-operated valve manifold according to claim 9 , wherein said substrate is mounted at the inside of each of said solenoid-operated valves.
 11. The solenoid-operated valve manifold according to claim 9 , wherein said substrates are mounted at the inside of said mediating unit.
 12. The solenoid-operated valve manifold according to claim 9 , wherein said substrate includes an integrated circuit for communication subjected to mold formation.
 13. The solenoid-operated valve manifold according to claim 9 , wherein said substrate includes an integrated circuit for communication subjected to mold formation together with said electronic parts.
 14. The solenoid-operated valve manifold according to claim 9 , wherein said substrate is composed of an element in which said entire substrate is formed into an integrated circuit on which said electronic parts and said integrated circuit for communication are carried.
 15. The solenoid-operated valve manifold according to claim 9 , wherein said IC for communication is provided in a state of bare chip.
 16. The solenoid-operated valve manifold according to claim 9 , further comprising connectors for electrically connecting said adjoining manifold blocks to one another. 